61. Jan Szyrocki International Festival of Choral Song in Międzyzdroje

The 61st International Festival of Choral Song named after Professor Jan Szyrocki in Międzyzdroje – the oldest choral festival in Poland, held continuously since 1966 – has come to an exciting close. This year’s competition brought together 13 ensembles from Poland, the Czech Republic and Sweden, showcasing an outstanding artistic level and the richness of international choral traditions.

The Jury, composed of Prof. Benedykt Błoński, Prof. Milan Kolena, Prof. Aleksandra Paszek-Trefon and Prof. Marek Gandecki, awarded the following prizes:

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Children's Choirs (up to 16 years of age)

No Bronze or Silver Diplomas were awarded in this category.

Gold Diplomas were awarded to:

• Children's Choir “Cantiamo” (Leżajsk, Poland), conductor: Barbara Kuczek – 90 points,

• Bonifantes Boys Choir (Pardubice, Czech Republic), conductor: Jan Misek – 90 points,

• Children's Choir “Voci Veloci” of the Tadeusz Szeligowski State Music School (Szczecin, Poland), conductor: Agata Czekalińska – 90 points.

Category Winner:

• Children's Choir “La Musica” (junior group) from Lublin, Poland, conducted by Joanna Błaszczyk, with 95 points.

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Equal Voices Choirs

Silver Diplomas were awarded to:

• “Educatus” Choir of the University of the National Education Commission in Kraków, conductor: Joanna Kosiba – 85 points,

• “Kantylena” Choir of the 3rd Secondary School in Lublin, conductor: Karolina Gołofit – 88 points.

Gold Diploma and Category Winner:

• Women's Choir of the Maritime University of Szczecin, conductor: Dominika Mastalerczyk – 93 points.

Vocal Ensembles (up to 16 singers)

No Bronze or Gold Diplomas were awarded in this category.

Silver Diplomas were awarded to:

• SATB Vocal Ensemble “Bonifantes” (Pardubice, Czech Republic), conductor: Jan Misek – 84 points,

• TTBB Vocal Ensemble “Bonifantes” (Pardubice, Czech Republic), conductor: Jan Misek – 86 points.

Mixed Choirs

Bronze Diploma:

• Warsaw Inter-University Choir (Warsaw, Poland), conductor: Borys Somerschaf – 77 points.

Gold Diplomas were awarded to:

• Lunds Ungdomskör (Lund, Sweden), conductor: Linda Alexandersson – 94 points,

• Choir of Gdańsk University of Technology (Gdańsk, Poland), conductor: Mariusz Mróz – 99 points.

Category Winner:

• Choir of Gdańsk University of Technology, conducted by Mariusz Mróz.

Special Awards

• The Mayor of Międzyzdroje Award, together with the Professor Jan Szyrocki Statuette for the best performance of a work by a contemporary Polish composer, was awarded to the Choir of Gdańsk University of Technology, conducted by Mariusz Mróz, for their performance of Anna Rocławska-Musiałczyk's Bibi Synkù bi.

• The Director of the International House of Culture Award was presented to the Children's Choir “Cantiamo” from Leżajsk.

• The Professor Ryszard Zimak Trophy, awarded by the Main Board of the Polish Association of Choirs and Orchestras, was presented to “Voci Veloci” from Szczecin.

• The Professor Stanisław Krawczyński Trophy, awarded by the Main Board of the Polish Association of Choirs and Orchestras, was presented to “La Musica” from Lublin.

• The President of the Main Board of the Polish Association of Choirs and Orchestras Trophy was awarded to Lunds Ungdomskör from Sweden.

• The Szczecin Branch Trophy of the Polish Association of Choirs and Orchestras was awarded to the Women's Choir of the Maritime University of Szczecin.

• The “Amber Tree” Award, funded by the Rychłowski Company of Międzyzdroje, was awarded to the Bonifantes Boys Choir from Pardubice.

Festival Nominations

• A nomination to participate in the National A Cappella Choir Competition for Children and Youth in Bydgoszcz 2027 was awarded to the Children's Choir “Cantiamo” from Leżajsk.

• A nomination to participate in the 26th Feliks Nowowiejski Choral Music Festival in Barczewo was awarded to the Bonifantes Boys Choir from Pardubice.

• A nomination to participate in the 11th International Choral Music Festival “Cantantes Lublinensis” was awarded to “Voci Veloci” from Szczecin.

• A nomination to participate in the Bratislava Choral Festivals 2027 was awarded to Lunds Ungdomskör from Sweden.

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The highest distinction of the 61st International Festival of Choral Song named after Professor Jan Szyrocki in Międzyzdroje – the Grand Prix and a cash prize of PLN 15,000 – was awarded to the Choir of Gdańsk University of Technology, conducted by Mariusz Mróz.

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The Grand Prix winner also received a nomination to participate in the Professor Stefan Stuligrosz Polish Grand Prix of Choral Music, joining the ranks of the finest Polish choirs competing for the country's most prestigious choral title.

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Congratulations to all participating choirs, conductors and laureates of this year's Festival. Thank you for creating, together with us, a true celebration of choral music and for the unforgettable artistic emotions that resonated throughout Międzyzdroje during these remarkable festival days.